Process of recovering nickel-steel scrap.



RALPH H. WATSON. 0F MUNHALL, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF RECOVERING NICKEL-STEEL SCRAP.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I. RALPH H. \Varson, of Munhall, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Process of Recovering Nickel-Steel Scrap, of which the following is a full, clear. and exact description.

My invention relates to recovering or utilizing, steel serap'contaiuing nickel with or without other metals or metalloids. This nickel scrap results in large quantities from the manufacture of various products formed from or containing nickel or nickel steels.

If such scrap is charged into an open hearth furnace in the ordinary manner with pie iron either molten. or cold, the nickel content of the charge is of course proportionately diluted and more nickel must be added in mine form in order to produce nickel steel of the proper nickel content. This therefore. necessitates the constant purchase of new nickel, My invention overcomes this draw back of the necessity for producing new nickel to min with such charges, and provides a simple. cheap and easily carried out method. by which nickel scrap may be converted into nickel steel.

In carrying out my method in its preferred form. I charge an open hearth furnace in the ordinary manner with a flux such as lime or other basic material; ()n the flux I then charge carbon, preferably in the form of coke, charcoal, graphite, coal or any other convenient form: -This carbon is preferably spread out over the flux on the bottom. The nickel steel'scrap is then charged in the ordinary manner on top of the carbon. The

heat is then proceeded with in the ordinary manner, and the carbon added'to the. charge supplies carbon to the bath in sufiicient quantity to su oly the necessary carbon content for liquefying and working the charge down-intosteel. In carrying out the. process I have obtained as high as 1.45% content of carbon in the charge after melting and before workingdown.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The dilution of the nickel in the scrap which has heretofore been necessary because ofthe additiqn of pigiron to the charge, is done away .with, and a nickel steel is-produced of sub stantlal'ly the same nickel content as the.

scrap used inthe charge. This nickel scrap Specification of Letters Patent.

Applicatton filed July 20, 1907. Serial No. 384,755.

accumulates in large quantities, owing not only to the scrap lost in cutting articles to their desired shape, but also in the return of worn-out articles formed wholly or in part of nickel steel. A considerable commercial Patented Sept. 21, 1909.

advantage results from my process. since the accumulation of nickel scrap is prevented. The demand for nickel steel is only in certain products, and the scrap returned, either in the operation of making the articles or fromthe worn out articles returned, leads to an over-supply of nickelsteels where the old methods were employed. My method over: comes this ditliculty, and enables me to pre; vent the supply from exceeding the demand.

In carrying out my process, the carbonaceous material for adding carbon to the nickel scrap may be added in the form of a carrier having a large percentage of can hon larger than that of commercial pig iron. Pi iron may be added to the charge, if desirec without departing from my invention. 'ithsome varieties of nickel scrap it is advisable to omit the flux on the bottom of the furnace, spreading the carbonaceous material on the bottom as before. In such case whatever flux is used may be added to the bath after the material is melted or while melting.

The above description applies to my process as carried out in a basic open hearth furnaee, but the process may be carried out as well in an acid open hearth iurnace instead of a basic open hearth furnace, in which case, of course, the flux will bechanged corres )ondingly.

he carbon or highly carbonaceous mate.- rial may be added to the charge either before melting, during melting, or after melting, and either above or below the char c or mixed with it. It should prefer-ab y be added before the slagaccumulates.

Other variations may be made in the proless without departing from my invention.

I claim 1. The method of making. nickel steel, co sistin in melting nickel steel stamp in an open iearth furnace in the I esenc'e of carbonaceous material to. lique y the scrap and then reducing the carbon content and Working the bath down into nickel-steel; ,sub-

stantially as described v 2. The method of making nickel steel, con.- sisting' in meltin'g'niokel steel camp in an 01ml! hearth furnace in the )l'uscnce of sufliin testimony \\'ll('IQ0f, 1 have hereunto set uwnt carbonaceous material to llquefy the my hand. bath, and then working down the char e and lhercby producing nickel Stool of sn D slantmlly the same nickel content as thel \V1tnesses:

RALPH ll. \VA'ISON.

scrap which is emp oyml; substantially as JOHN MILLER, described. H. M. Conwm. 

